Originally posted on Infrastructure Summit.
Philbert Shih, Founder and Managing Director of Structure Research, joins a panel of industry experts on the Cool Vector Hot Takes podcast to explore the growing impact of tariffs and supply chain disruptions on data center development in the U.S.
Alongside John Wilson (CFO, Sabey Data Centers), Nabeel Mahmood (Nomad Futurist Foundation), and Phillip Koblence (Critical Ventures), Philbert discussed how global dependencies on critical components, like GPUs, power supply, and transformers, are creating delays for operators.
Even small disruptions can have outsized effects: “If the customer doesn’t have chips, doesn’t have servers, doesn’t have cables, they’re not going to be able to set up their infrastructure.” This interconnectedness highlights the fragility of today’s supply chains.
The panlists also explored how power grid constraints could become a critical bottleneck, the pricing flexibility of multi-tenant data centers compared to hyperscale facilities, and the accelerating pace of new data center development outside North America as operators seek to hedge geopolitical risks.
One clear takeaway: navigating these challenges requires long-term planning, trusted vendor relationships, and patience.
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